The United Kingdom is intensifying its investments in Africa’s mining industry, signaling a renewed commitment to the continent’s role as a global hub for critical and traditional minerals.
With Africa holding nearly 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, the partnership between African nations and UK investors is being framed as both a strategic supply move for Britain and a development opportunity for African economies.
The growing collaboration will take centre stage at the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW), scheduled for October 1–3, 2025, in Cape Town. The event will serve as a meeting point for African governments, international financiers, and UK-based companies eager to expand their footprint on the continent.
Among its highlights will be the European Partnerships in African Mining: A Mutually Beneficial Future roundtable, designed to strengthen ties between Europe and Africa by connecting capital with mineral-rich opportunities.
Across the continent, several British firms are making notable progress. In Uganda, Blencowe Resources is advancing the Orom-Cross Graphite Project, which has already secured a five-year offtake agreement to supply graphite to Perpetuus Advanced Materials Limited in the UK.
The deal is supported by an additional $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. For Uganda, this project represents more than mineral exports it positions the country as a potential supplier to the global electric vehicle and battery industries, while generating jobs and infrastructure development locally.
In the Republic of Congo, Kore Potash has announced $2.2 billion in investment for the Kola Potash Project through a strategic partnership with Swiss investor OWI-RAMS GMBH.
Such large-scale financing signals confidence in Africa’s mining potential and is expected to create long-term economic impact by boosting production capacity, infrastructure, and industrial growth.
Meanwhile in Zambia, one of Africa’s largest copper producers, the British Geological Survey has partnered with the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development to map critical mineral prospects.
This detailed study not only provides clarity for potential investors but also strengthens Zambia’s ability to attract new projects that align with the global push for cleaner energy and advanced technologies.
Further afield, Gemfields is expanding its ruby and gemstone mining operations across Zambia, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and Madagascar. In June 2025, the company raised $30 million to support these projects, underscoring investor confidence in Africa’s colored gemstone market.
Other UK companies such as Xtract Resources and Endeavour Mining are also increasing their activities across West and Southern Africa, further deepening the UK’s role in the continent’s mining landscape.
Beyond private companies, the UK’s development finance arm, British International Investment (BII), continues to play a key role in advancing Africa’s mining and critical sectors. In 2024 alone, BII’s investments in African businesses surged by 40%, reaching £1.09 billion compared to £725 million in 2023.
This injection of capital reflects a broader strategy to channel funds into industries that not only secure Britain’s mineral supply but also contribute to Africa’s long-term industrialization, economic diversification, and job creation.
For Africa, the UK’s increased presence in mining carries significant implications. On one hand, it promises greater access to international capital, technology, and expertise, which are crucial for expanding production and building value chains within the continent.
On the other hand, it raises the opportunity for African nations to negotiate partnerships that emphasize value addition, local beneficiation, and shared prosperity rather than simply exporting raw materials.
African Mining Week provides the ideal platform to advance these discussions. Running alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference, the event is expected to drive deal signings and partnerships that could transform Africa’s mining industry for decades.
With the UK positioning itself as a long-term partner, the conference will highlight not only the continent’s resource potential but also the opportunities for sustainable growth through mutually beneficial collaboration.
As global demand for critical minerals intensifies driven by the energy transition, electric vehicles, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution Africa’s partnership with the UK presents an opportunity to balance supply security with inclusive development.
For African countries, this wave of investment could mark the beginning of a new era where mineral wealth fuels industrial transformation, infrastructure development, and broader economic empowerment.
